Bleah... So, I'm 40w2d, and I haven't had any real BH ctx, nor have I had any bloody show -maybe an uptick in discharge (TMI, sorry), but that's it. I woke up this morning feeling just terrible. Tired, a little nauseated, back ache, occasional abdominal cramps/pangs - not enough to call them ctx, but just enough to make me not want to move. Could this be early labor? Or just indigestion? People say you'll just know when ctx start, there won't be any doubt. But I've read a lot of birth stories where mamas were laboring through the night and didn't know it. What are your experiences?

I was told that I would "know" too. Umm not so much. DS1 no contractions that I could feel but was having them according to monitor and high leak. What I thought were BH with DS2, since they were just annoying, not long and not interupting my day, were real contractions. I didn't realize until I had a Oh my stop in my tracks one, water broke with the next, DS2 was born 10 min later. Good thing I was already at the hospital for an regular appointment.

Basically if the cramps continue I would probably get checked out.

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wife and mom-- no other special labels. Just trying to do the best I can.

I'm in a similar boat, 40+2, a little bit of show this morning. Regular BH contractions (every 5-7 minutes) for weeks (on bedrest from 34-37). Contractions have gotten stronger when I was walking around, then would back off when resting. As of yesterday they are a bit stronger, feeling crampy, a little sick to my stomach. How exactly are we supposed to tell...

Sounds like it to me, but you never know. I just felt kind of crummy all day with a little bit of a nagging backache. I didn't believe I was in early labor at all. I went from basically that (which was nothing!) to hard labor all of the sudden. I had also been loosing my mucous plug all day though. It's different for everyone. A good indicator - take a warm bath. If the pain in your abdomen or back subsides, it's probably nothing. If it continues it might be earlier labor. GL mama!

I didn't have any early labor. Is that weird? My waters broke and I still felt fine. Labor started after that.

My neighbor who was due 2 weeks before me had 3 days of early labor. But she had actual contractions and they kept trying to go to the hospital but she wasn't dilated enough do she kept getting sent home.

Anyways, good luck! I bet you're eager so I hope you are good to go!

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SAHM to Magnolia May (09/10) and Luke Russett (04/13) and wife and best friend to my airman.